Mind Control and the American Media
Does the Media Support the Right-wing Agenda?
For most of March, the U.S. population was fixated on the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case. Discussions and arguments about the Schiavo case took place daily around water coolers, bars, and dinner tables everywhere. It was likely the most talked about topic of the day.
Then Pope John Paul II died, and all attention quickly moved to the late pope, with almost 24/7 coverage of activities at the Vatican and interviews with mourners from around the world. Terri Schiavo was no longer of interest.
Meanwhile, the media has had very little to say about Iraq, where several more U.S. soldiers have been killed, the Abu Ghraib prison was attacked by insurgents, and a Belgian soldier died from "friendly fire" by U.S. troops.
While the Schiavo case and the papal passing were certainly interesting and poignant stories, did they really merit 23 hours of coverage per day on the cable news channels, while other events that more closely impact the lives of the average American citizen went unreported?
The Schiavo case had sex, illness, and death going for it. The papal death features so much pageantry. The entertainment value for these stories is far greater than that for, say, the proposed Bankruptcy Bill and the threats to Social Security. And, conveniently, they distract us from the ethics scandals plaguing House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the lawsuit against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld over U.S. torture policies, the deaths of our soldiers in Iraq, and other news inconvenient to the right-wing agenda.
The media are in business to make money. Sensational stories like the Schiavo case and the death of the pope can easily be spun into headlines that sell papers. But the media have a moral responsibility to give us all the news of the day, even if the truth hurts.
The media must remember that their purpose is to inform the public, not to protect or placate the powers that be. They must regain the brave commitment to the truth that has been the hallmark of great journalism through the centuries. And they must be honest without fear of the consequences.
At the same time, the American people must open their eyes, open their minds, and recognize that there is more to life than entertainment. They must snap out of their complacency and their blissful ignorance of what's really going on in the world, and hold the media accountable.
A true democracy requires an informed electorate. With the 2006 mid-term elections just around the corner, there is no time to waste.
Published by Mary Shaw
Philadelphia-based writer, editor, and communications consultant. More info here: http://www.maryshawonline.com/ View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentYour naivete made my head hurt. With your years of writing, I assume there also has been some reading. That should have given you an idea of the number of journalists, scholars, writers and others of influence who have chanted the same mantra. This argument about media bias and control has gone on for centuries. The guy who disagrees with our point of view always has "an ax to grind." Nothing's going to change in the mainstream media. What is delightful and damned important, however, is that places like AC have cropped up and permit expressions of concern, no matter how naive. Pull Americans away from entertainment, dear? Not in this lifetime. The house can be burning down around them and their last glance back will be at the TV set (if it wasn't pushed out to be saved first.)
One thing will change our mindset and no one wants to think of that now. We came close with 9/11. There has to be some kind of catastrophe to get the attention of Americans. Then they will react; then they will
I agree almost wholeheartedly but for the fact that, since the media exists in its present form as a form of entertainment rather than actual journalism, it is more a reflection on the values, or lack thereof, of the American people. Sadly, more Americans would rather hear about the "drama" of the Schiavo fiasco than the very real drama of the illegal war in Iraq. Therefore that is what the media covers. In the age of "reality" t.v. and Jerry Springer-like talk shows, the media know it is more profitable to cater to the ignorance of the people. But surely the Right takes advantage of American stupidity; if we are largely ignorant and easily pleased with mind-dulling programming, we are easier to control.
I guarantee more people can identify Scott Peterson's girlfriend than can come within 500 of how many American soldiers have died in Iraq. There is no liberal media. There is no difference between CNN, MSNBC and Fox. Distraction is the name of the game.
I got sick of the 24/7 Pope coverage, too, but how that equates to right-wing control of the media is lost on me. You didn't make a very clear case for it, anyway. Besides there were plenty of news outlets to go to that were much less interested in the Pope or Schiavo stories. Broascast media isn't just three channels anymore.
Nothing everyone doesn't already know. One big cliche
I agree with your article and would go as far as adding that the media has taken the roll of entertnainers. It's sad to say that in todays America jurnalist seem to be fearfull of questioning the government and it's officials, for fear of not being politicaly correct.
While I enjoyed your shock-tactics, and the urgency behind the article, I'm a bit concerned about your infusion of your own political agenda above the topical nature that you appeared to be presenting, given the articles title. Mind control seems to be ok as long as the topics at hand serve to proliferate a particular agenda. News is entertainment because there are so many different sources, and one has to differentiate themselves if they are to get any ratings. Pretty much everyone is saying the same thing anyway, so it's understandable why one would present it in a different way, from a different angle.
I have to seriously disagree with you. Death is interesting, fascinating even, but coverage on what goes on in Iraq is a fixation on death because that's mainly what is happening to our soldiers. Plus Iraq is old news it's been going on for a few years now. Writers and journalists would like the media to give 24/7 coverage to the war like it was Vietnam all over again but the average citizen can only handle so much of it.
Not to mention that coverage of the World Trade Center was 24/7 for more than a month when it happened. As far as the Pope, the 24/7 coverage would be of interest to you if you feared God or were Catholic. I'm not Catholic, but I do understand their devotion to the man as if he were God himself, although I do not necessarily agree with it. But the power that God has, I have to respect their dedication towards a God I've been indifferent about for a while. The media should remain liberal, but being liberal does not mean being overly patriotic.